Harry p



(No Model.)

H. P.'-DAVIS. SUPPORTING MEANS FUR ELECTRIC RAILWAY SUPPLY GONDUGTORS.

Patented Apr. 13,, 1897.

FFICEQ HARRY DAVIS, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF

SAME PLACE.

SUPPORTING MEANS FOR ELECTRIC-RAILWAY SUPPLY-CONDUCTORS.

SIPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 580,381, dated April 13, 1897.

Original application filed June 10, 1896, Serial No. 595,003. Divided and this application filed September 1'7, 1896. Serial No. 606,148. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Beitknown that I,HARRY P. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing in Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Supporting Means for Electric-Railway Supply-Conductors, (Case No. 713,) of which the following is a specification, this application being a division of my application filed June 10, 1896, Serial No. 595,003.

My invention relates to supporting means for overhead supply-conductors for electric railways; and it has for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive, and effective device for supporting such conductors either from one or both sides of the track in such manner as to avoid any displacement of the same with reference to the track-rails as well as any danger of interference with current-collecting devices.

In devices heretofore employed for making the connection between the pull-off wires and the overhead conductors for electric railways the device itself has either extended below the supply-conductor in order that the strain upon the conductor might be applied in the same horizontal plane with it, or the pull-off wires have been attached to the supporting device above the horizontal plane of the conductor. The first-named construction is practically useful where grooved trolley-wheels are employed as current-collecting devices, and the last-named construction is practicable and useful in straight-line work or in connection with laterally-extending collecting devices. Such a construction is not suitable for curves, however, particularly in cases where the pull-off wires are located at one side of the track only, for the reason that the proper location of the conductor with reference to the track-rails is not maintained. The other construction, in which the supporting devices extend below the horizontal plane of the supply-conductor, obviously precludes the use of a laterally-extending contact dev1ce.

My present invention is suitable for use on either straight-line work or at curves and in connection with any practical form of ourrent-collector.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 3 are respectively a side elevation, a plan, and an end elevation of my supporting device.

Referring now to the details of construction, 1 is a supporting piece or bar having a curved loweredge and provided along its upper edge with a longitudinal groove 2 for the reception of a supply-conductor, this being either clamped around or soldered to the conductor in order to securely support the same. This piece 1 is provided substantially midway of its ends with either one or two laterallyprojecting ears 3, preferably integral therewith, one of such ears being shown in full lines and the other in dotted lines. These ears are perforated in order to'provide means for attaching the pull-off or span wires usually employed. The perforations in these cars are located substantially in the same horizontal plane with the groove for the reception of the line conductor in order that the strain may be applied at the proper point and all danger of changing the position of the com ductor with reference to the track avoided.

The ears 3 may be made of or coated with insulating material, or, if preferred, suitable insulating devices may be employed for attaching the pull-off wires thereto.

\Vhere this device is employed at curves in connection with supporting means located at one side of the track only, it will be constructed with asingle supporting-ear. Where the supports are located at both sides of the track, both supporting-ears will be employed.

I claim as my invention- 1. A supporting device for electric-railway conductors consisting of a bar having a longitudinally-grooved upper edge and a curved lower edge, and provided at one side, substantially midway of its ends with a perforated ear, the perforation in said ear and the groove in said bar being in substantially the same horizontal plane.

2. A pulloff device for electric-railway conductors consisting of a bar having a longitudinally-grooved upper edge and a curved lower edge, and provided With a iaterallyscribed my name this 14th day of September, projecting perforated ear at each side, sub- A.,D. 1896. stantially midway of its ends, the perforations in said ears and the groove in said bar 5 being in substantially the same horizontal Witnesses:

plane. WESLEY G. CARR, In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto sub- HUBERT O. TENER.

HARRY P. DAVIS. 

